To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Character, theme, symbol and conflict

Character

Atticus Finch has all the qualities that are needed for a hero, a father, a good neighbour, and a responsible citizen, and most important of all a lawyer with a strong moral conscience. His characters and actions lack any sort of double standards or hypocrisy as he is known for being the same in public as he is at home. The way he brings up his children speaks highly of his character. His children though initially ignorant of the good qualities their father possesses, later on towards the end, realize that their father is nothing but a hero for them. Scout realizes that her father who had never fought a war or picked up a gun was the bravest man she knew as she sees Atticus talk to Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. Atticus despite the ill tempered nature of Mrs Dubose admires her will to fight morphine addiction towards the end of her life, and to explain the true meaning of real courage to his children, he sends his son, Jem to read to her every day. Atticus takes steps like these all along the novel to teach his children the moral values. He shrugs aside his own sister's objection at the way Calpurnia is raising the children and despite her black colour lets her continue with the job (Petry, 1994).

Perhaps the main episode that makes him the real hero is his unflinching support for a Negro who has been falsely accused of rape. Supporting a black man in face of accusation from a white woman is something that no lawyer could dare too. It was Atticus's complete disregard for racism and his belief in principles of morality that he fights the case of Tom Robinson. What speaks even highly of his character is that he shows the resolve and determination to fight the case when he is convinced of his defeat from the beginning. This is what makes him my most beloved character among all the characters I have known. Atticus demonstrates real courage; the will to fight and try till the end even when you know that you have been defeated from the beginning. He shrugs aside the criticism he acquires due to his support for Robinson, but since he is convinced in his heart that he is doing the right thing, he does not change his actions.

The greatness in his character is realized when we see him initially not agreeing with the sheriff to hush up the incident involving Bob Ewell's attack on the children and his death. This shows that he is not ready to bring his children up in any sort of a contradictory way.

Theme

Racism and the need to show tolerance is the central theme of the novel. The entire novel is reflective of how destructive racism is for the moral fabric of the American society, and how the innocents are made to suffer on account of this evil at the hands of those ...